Feb. 24-26, 2011--Members of the
Democratic National Committee, gathered at the Marriott Wardman Park
for the party's winter meeting, are looking beyond the drubbing the
party received in the November mid-term elections and setting out to
build a winning organization for the re-election of President Barack
Obama in
2012.

In his speech to the general session on Saturday, Chairman Tim Kaine
said November 2 "was a tough night; it was a very tough
night." After reviewing areas where Democrats had fallen short,
notably among independents, Kaine did point to a couple of bright spots
highlighting success among African
American voters and the fact that "all the late breakers (races not
called on Election Night) switched our way." Nonetheless, Kaine
said, "You can't sugar coat it." He quoted William Faulkner, "The
may have kilt us, but they ain't whooped us." Kaine hailed the
achievements of the lame duck session. He repeated the "we're
winning the future" theme of President Obama's State of the Union
Address, and said "what the other party is doing is they're the party
of the past." Kaine defended the Affordable Care Act, tagged
ObamaCare by critics, stating, "I'm glad Obama cares." Also
during the general session members heard from DC Mayor Vincent Gray,
White House
Chief of Staff Bill Daley, and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis.

Much of the activity on the first two days of this meeting
occurred in various constituency and regional caucuses, where members
heard from Kaine and assorted guests of interest. A highlight for
many members was the visit to the White House on Friday. Throughout the
meeting there was
considerable discussion about the selection of
Charlotte, NC
to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention, announced at the
beginnning of the month; the decision did not sit well with many labor
and LGBT members, but Kaine emphasized the need to play offense.
The situation in Wisconsin, where Gov.
Scott Walker (R) is attempting to eliminate collective bargaining
rights for many public sector workers, was also on many people's
minds.

Kaine himself was the subject of conversation, as he is considering
whether to make a run for the U.S. Senate after Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA)
announced he would not seek re-election. Whether Kaine decides to
stay or go, there are changes afoot at the DNC. Executive
director Jennifer O'Malley Dillon will be moving over to the re-elect
campaign, and succeeding her is Patrick Gaspard, who is leaving his
position as political director at the White House.